Shy kids suffer later

Children who tend to work by themselves, are not very well liked
by their peers or are socially isolated, may have a higher risk of
cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin followed 1037
children from birth to 26 years old.

Parents and teachers assessed the subjects on eight different
occasions during childhood. Subjects with signs of social isolation
in childhood had a 37 per cent increased risk of poor health at age
26 years old.

The link may be due to the "cumulative wear and tear caused by
repeated adaptations to psychosocial stressors", the researchers
said.

Published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent
Medicine, reported by Reuters.